A short history of the application of NAA in the characterization of archaeological materials at the National Center for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Athens, is presented. NAA was first applied in archaeology in 1974 at the Radioanalytical Laboratory, and since 1989 has been one of the primary analytical techniques of the 'Demokritos' archaeometry programme. A case study is also presented, concerning chemical patterning of the black-on-red Neolithic pottery class from Macedonia. Four chemical groups were identified, each corresponding to a different area of production. It is shown that this standardized concept of pottery technology and style was spread out within at least eastern Macedonia.